Find a mentor to run a successful farming business

Successfully running a farming business is not a walk in the park for many farmers, especially those without a solid agricultural background. 

This is why Sabelo Samkelisiwe Xaba (32) of KwaZiphethe village in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) encourages emerging farmers to have a mentor who specialises in the type of farming relevant to them. 

Xaba is a poultry farmer and member of a cooperative called Phozidien, which started operating informally more than three years ago but was only registered in January 2024.  

The business specialises in broiler chickens, which are preferred by many people in her community to frozen chicken sold at retail stores. 
“It is important for emerging farmers to associate themselves with like-minded people and mentors in the farming industry because they can guide you throughout your farming journey.”  

She added that experienced farmers serve as a source of motivation to work harder and are likely to share possible solutions to challenges facing emerging farmers because they might have walked the path before. 

Furthermore, she said it is important to grasp crucial business skills such as making a profit effectively to become a successful farmer.

“Initially, the business was not doing well due to COVID-19. I resuscitated it in 2021 but it was affected by the July unrest and looting that took place in parts of KZN and Gauteng. In 2022, our province was also badly affected by floods and my business was yet again affected.” 

Despite the challenges, she remained motivated to sustain the cooperative because she was aware of the high unemployment rate facing the country. 

She identified a local poultry farmer whose business was doing well and was equipped with various business skills including an informal short course in raising one-day-old chicks at his farm. 

She also learned the importance of marketing skills, growing her feed, biosecurity record keeping and transportation skills. 

Young people in farming

Xaba’s passion for poultry farming stems from watching her grandmother become a subsistence broiler farmer when she was growing up. Furthermore, a few years ago she came across an article published by SAnews.gov.za that encouraged young people to consider poultry farming as entrepreneurs. 

Her late mother then helped her start the business. 
Currently, Xaba is selling live chickens across her community and to food vendors in and around her area, as well as to members of stockvels. 

Xaba has so far employed five people in her business and she  hopes to employ more in the near future. 
Although the business has not yet received funding from government, Xaba said the celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy holds a profound significance to her. 

“It represents the hard-fought battles of previous generations for equality, justice, and the right to determine our destiny. It's a legacy of resilience and hope that has provided us with opportunities that were previously denied. 

“Freedom and democracy mean that I have the chance to pursue my dreams without the barriers of institutionalised discrimination. However, it also reminds me of the ongoing work that is needed to address the socio-economic inequalities that still exist,” she said. 

She encouraged the youth to consider business opportunities in farming so that they can help fight against unemployment and food insecurity.  ¥